Bookholder



April 4 G. "r. ROGERS 2,439,950

' BOOKHOLDER Filed Oct. 27, 1944' 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 George T figen's''April 20, 1948. e. T. ROGERS I 2,439,950

BOOKHOLDIER File d Oct. 27, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 2 1ft? Z jwegzw 6607:9'6T Buyer's e. T. ROGERS BOOKHOLDER Filed Oct. '27, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Apr. 20, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to book-holders of the class broadly describedand claimed in the Bartlett Patent No. 1,657,343 of January 24, 1928,and more particularly to a holder for a large and heavy book, adapted tosupport the book both when opened and when closed and to permit easyopening and closing of the book even though it be of the abnormallylarge size in which unabridged dictionaries are commonly published, allwhile securely retaining the book in the holder in either opened orclosed condition, so that the book is not liable to be accidentallydisplaced.

In one aspect, the present invention contemplates an improvement on thatof the Bartlett patent especially in providing means for minimizing theeffort of handling the book and particularly in opening movements forcausing the book to lie fiat so as to render the inner ma'rgins of thepages clearly visible.

In another aspect, the present invention contemplates an improvement onthe Bartlett patent in providing a separable frame for the book andstand therefor, so that the advantages of the invention may be realizedwhether the frame be supported by the stand or removed from thestand andsupported upon an ordinary desk or table as may be at times moreconvenient for reference to the book.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent by reference tothe following description taken together with the accompanying drawings,of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, and in whichdrawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a structure embodyingthe present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the same, showing, in broken lines, analternative position of the parts;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3but showing in full lines the parts in the alternative position shown inbroken lines in Fig. 2, and in broken lines in the position shown infull lines in Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 4 but showing a stillfurther altered position of the parts; and

Figure 6 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 1 but showing theframe removed from the stand.

Referring in detail to the illustrative construc- I mation having thelegs I l which may bear upon is of somewhat bracket formation andcomprises a pair of cantilever support arms I2 which adjacent theirouter ends are socketed as at 1%. Transverse bars I4 and I5 serve tostiffen the structure just describedat its front and rear respectively.I

The upper bracket part of the stand it] just referred to is adapted totiltably hold the book frame is, as by the latter having trunnions Hwhich are received in the sockets I3 of the stand arms If, these socketsbeing open upwardly so that the trunnions may be lowered thereinto orraised therefrom by simple vertical movements. To retain the frame in apredetermined position with respect to the stand, releasableinterengaging catch means is provided which is here represented by aprop in the form of a wire bail l8 which hangs from the rear end-of theframe and which has a lower rung l9 and an upper rung 26. Upstandingfrom the transverse reinforcement bar [5 is a spring clip 2| grooved asat 22 to receive either of the rungs 19 or 20 selectively therein.

When, as shown-in Fig. 1, the lower rung I9 is caught by the clip, thebook frame It is maintained in a predetermined position tilteddownwardly toward the reader so that easy reference may be made to abook carried by the frame as later more particularly described. If it isdesired to have the frame and book lie flat, the finger piece 23 of thespring clip 2| may be pressed rearwardly or the bail l8 pulled slightlyforwardly to release the clip and bail and the upper rung 2a of the bailmay be then engaged with the spring groove 22, the resiliency of theparts retaining this engagement until it be again desired to release thecatch for other adjustment. To accommodate such tilting adjustments thetrunnions I1 will rotate readily in the sockets l3 of the stand. Thespring clip 2| may be secured as by screws 2| a to the reinforcement bari5 of the stand.

Turning now to the construction and operation of the frame parts andreverting for the moment to those parts of the device which areconstructed somewhat in accordance with the broad disclosure of the saidBartlett patent, upon the base 24 of the frame t6 are upstanding aplurality of bearing posts 25 and 25, two posts 25 constituting one pairand two posts 26 another pair, the pairs on the axis of the pivotpins29)., and extending.

outwardly and ang ularly of the hortdeverfiZL- a longer lever 30 whichin this instance is platelike and is adapted to lap say the cover of abook received in the stand. The lever 30 has a part 30a. which isintegral with the lever 21 and apart I 30b welded thereto forconvenienceof construction. The bearing posts 25 at the other side ofthestand similarly constitutea 1pairi'ofajfulcrum bearings, fixed withrespect to each other.

and to the bearing posts 25, to pivotallycarry another of the compoundlifter arm devices 21'28-3B in opposite ia'ce -to face and -comple-"mentary arrangement.

The pair of lifter arm device-s- 21 28 gwmen here each are given-afurther-designating numeral 3 l support "betweenth'em a-- stirrup device32 which here comprises a floating p1atform-33 sayof any suitablestrongmaterial asinthis instance a woodstrip and a-pai-r-ofunderlyingfloating metal beams 34 *and' 35' wh-ich may 'beriveted to the platformas*-at 36. The'stirrup device 32 is carried by the lifter devices{ii-through the intermediation of 'thesefloatingbeams 34 and 35 and tothisendthe-lifter'devices '3lat' their corners where-the levers 21 a-nddd-join,

are cut away, in both 'the-leveril'and the lever 39 as at'31 (as bestshown' in Fig. 4) to passthe floating beams 34 and 35* respectivelytherethrough. Thatis, each lifterdevice is cut away as at 37 and 33 topass the *fioating beam 34 through each of themand at39 to' pass thefloating beam 35 througheach of 'them,'tliefioating' connections thusprovided being spaced "apart from front to rear" of the frame l 6:

Thus, as best seen-from Figure'2and"noting first the ciull line positionof 'the partsgwhen" the lifter devices'3l rotate so that'their"'outerplate-like arms are verticalandparailel; the stirrup device isdepressed. In 'thisposi'tioma" closed book may beiinserted betweentheiplatelike arms 30 and held? somewhatsnuglywhere between withits-back restingpn"andsupported by the platform .33of'thestirrup'device. When now, as shown inx-broken'linesinFigureZ; the

lifter devices 3| arerevolvedomtheir'pivots29' the stirrup device 32'iselevatedand' the book' ispermitted to open supported directly'bythe"arms 38 ofthelifter'devices 3i and the platform" 33of the stirrup device-32whichare nowniore or less in one plane.

To maintain the stirrup devicecentered between the lifter devicesintits'floatingup and down movements, the floating beam 341s. shownhaving its ends "received" in" apair'of vertical guide posts 48alsoupstandi'ng' fromthe"frame' base and being ofbox-like formation withopen faces 4| which facetoward'eachotherand receive the ends of thefloating"beam"34 and permit free up and down movement thereof withinlimitsof the height of the guide posts while preventing lateralmovements wh-i'cli'might displace the stirrup. The guideposts 40"alsoprovide stop supports on which the cover-lapping levers 30 rest: intheir opene'd'positioir.

Reverting again to- 'i'eaturesto which thepresent disclosure isdirectem'lfi have here shown,

platform at spaced apart places thereon to hang "therebelow and becarried thereby in the up and down movements out the stirrup. Carried bythese hangers42 is a chine member 44 of somewhat plate=like formationand elongated in the direction'i-ottheplatform 33, this chine memberhaving slots 45 in its lateral margins which pass the hanger elements 42therethrough. In one position the chine member 44 is free to drop ontothe crosstmembers 5460f the hangers. In another.:,positio'n:thefchinemember 44 is adapted tome-elevatedon tl'ie hangers, and extendinglengthwise. of the: chin'e'member'is a central ridge portiond-l "(thechinemember being conveniently madetof sheet-metal. bent upon itself toproduce thisrridge) -Whi'0hinl.th elevated position of the chinerm'emberprojects upwardly through a well openings-8 extending leng-thwise of theplatform 33': but tenninatingshort 'o'f the floating beams 3l4'and'i35'ratieachfiend; The chine member 4 is therefore".substantially aslong as the well opening 48TH! the platform and'underlies the platformbetween the floating beams 34 and 35. Meansforthus causing relativemovement of thechinememberfl with respect to the stirrup devicei32.is'.here represented by lifter fingers 49 which arehere showninte'gra1 and rigid with the lifter levers 21, respectively, there beinghere four; men ofthe'se lifter fingers, two at each side'ofitheplatforin 33f'andchine member 124 and spaced apart adjacent theintermediate longitudinal margins of'th'e platform which the chinemember-underlies. Thus as'the book, indicated somewhat diagrammaticallyat' 50, is opened, the lifterdevicestl' arer'evclved on their fulcrumpivots'ii29, (Fig; 4) and; as-tne stirrup device 32 approaches its upperlimit 'of 'rnovement, the lifter'finger's'l's engageunder the chinemember 44'andilift this chine member further with respect to the stirrupdevice, the chine member slidingmp o'nthe hangers 42, namely, from theposition'slicwn in broken lines in Figure 4 to that shown in'f'ull'lines. -To fercilitate this lifting of the chine member withrespect to the stirrup platform; the membermay have a pair ofantifriction rods'ilrunnin'g along each side thereof rotatably securedas in lugs 52 depending from the margins-of the chine member and againstwhich the lifter fingers 49 impinge. To further reduce frictid'ntherebet'ween, the extremities of the liftenfingers may be curvedupwardly as at 53."

Thus, as willbest be seen from Figure 4, the peaked ridge portion 41ofthe chine member 44, in the open position of the book, will projectupwardly into the archlike hollow 54 which the back of a large booknormally describes when opened and this peakedridge portion 47 of the"chine-hiember will thus'sup'port the center of ence to portions of thepages which lie adjacent the binding of the book. In large books such asunabridged dictionaries, this function is of marked importance andutility. The chine member also prevents unnecessary lateral movements ofthe book which might cause wear thereon.

Turning next to Figure of the drawings, this shows, following thepresent invention a further alternative position of the chine member 44which it may occupy when for example the book, as shown herediagrammatically at 55 is open, say, near the rear cover of the book,instead of along the middle of the book as shown in Figure 4. In thecase, as shown in Figure 5, the back of the book forms a differentshaped arch as at 56 and the place in the book where the leaves divide,as at 51, its apex shifts to the right as shown in Figure 5. As hereconstructed and arranged, the chine piece 44 adapts itself to this shiftby reason of the fact that the slots 45 through which the hangers 42pass are elongated laterally, and the opening of the book at a placeother than the center line thereof will, as shown in Figure 5, tend tocam the chine member 44 in this instance toward the right-hand side ofthe holder to accommodate the shift in this direction of the separation51 of the leaves of the book and of the high point of the arch 56 formedby the back of the book and one cover thereof. The beveled formation ofthe ridge portion 41 of the chine member and the action of theanti-friction rods 5! on the lifter fingers 49 facilitates thisautomatic adjustment of the chine member to the place at which the bookis opened during first the rising movement of the stirrup device andchine member together and then later the relative rising movement of thechine piece with respect to the stirrup platform. Thus while the chinemember is held by lifter fingers 49 from downward movement until thebook is again closed, it is still free to move laterally by reason ofthe slotted connections 42-45 to adjust itself to the position of theback of the book as the book is opened at different places and theleaves thereby turned, the ridge portion 41 acting somewhat as a newelabout which the pages turn and which adjusts itself automatically to thearch of the back, while at the same time tending to maintain oraccentuate this arch to cause the pages to lie flatter.

When now the book is closed entirely, the weight of the book beingreceived on the stirrup device 32, the lifter devices 31 are revolved ontheir pivots 29 by the weight of the book to the position shown in fulllines in Figure 2 and in broken lines in Figure 4. As the lifter fingers49 thereby drop away from contact with the chine member 44, the latteris further depressed, both by the action of gravity and the weight ofthe book thereon, and drops through the well opening 48 so that itsridge part 4'! is depressed below the upper surface of the stirrupplatform 33 and thus out of interference with the position of the bookthereon when the book is closed.

As shown in Figure 6, the frame It with the book thereon may be removedentirely from the stand in and may be placed-upon an ordinary desk ortable top 58 for example, at which time the prop or bail 18, which isintegral with the frame, will maintain the frame and with it the bookheld therein, in inclined position convenient to the eye of the reader.The frame parts previously described will function as indicated withequal effectiveness whether the frame, 16

be mounted on the stand in as shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive orremoved from the stand and placed upon a table top as shown in Figure 6.

The plate-like lever arms 30, which lap the back and front covers of thebook respectively, may be angularly extended inwardly toward each otheras shown at 59 (Fig. 2) to provide stops against which the lower edgesof the book may abut to keep the book from sliding downwardly on theframe.

So constructed and arranged the device of the present invention is amarked improvement over that broadly disclosed in the said BartlettPatent particularly in aifording greater ease and flexibility of use ofthe bookholder. It provides enhanced support for the book when open andprevents unnecessary side movement, thus minimizing wear and tear andextending the life of the book.

It is intended to be understood that the invention is not limited todetails of construction here shown for the purposes of exemplification,since it is to be understood that such changes may be made as fallWithin the scope of the appended claims without departing from theinvention.

What is here claimed is:

1. A book-holder comprising in combination a frame, pairs of fulcrummembers supported by the frame in parallel relation, a pair of leverspivotally connected to each pair of fulcrum members respectively, eachof said levers comprising ashort arm and a long arm angular thereto, astirrup supported by and between said levers, means connecting thestirrup with the levers whereby when the levers are in book openingposition the stirrup will be raised and when the levers are in closedposition the stirrup will be depressed and will receive the'back of thebook and support the entire weight of the book, and means associatedwith said levers and stirrup and having relative movement with respectto the stirrup for further elevating intermediate portions of the backof the book when the stirrup is raised, said means comprising a pair ofhangers depending from said stirrup, a. chine member carried by saidhangers for up and down movement thereon, a lifter arm carried by eachlever and engageable with said chine member to raise the chine member inthe elevated position of the stirrup, said chine member also havinglateral movement with respect to said stirrup to accommodate varyingpositions of the book back.

2. A book-holder comprising in combination a frame, a pair fo fulcrummembers supported by the frame, a pair of levers pivotally connected toeach fulcrum member respectively, each of said levers comprising a,short arm and a long arm angular thereto, a stirrup supported by andbetween said levers, means connecting the stirrup with the leverswhereby when thelevers are in book opening position the stirrup will beraised and when the levers are in closed position the stirrup will .bedepressed and. will receive the back of the book and support the entireweight of the book, and means associated with said levers and stirrupand having relative movement with respect to the stirrup for furtherelevating intermediate portions of the back of the book when the stirrupis raised, said means comprising a lifter arm carried by each lever anda chine member engageable by the lifter arms in the elevated position ofthe stirrup.

3. A book-holder comprising in combination a frame, a pair of fulcrummembers supported by the frame, a pair of levers pivota-lly connected tothe fulcrum member respectively, each of said angular thereto, a stirrupsupported by and between said levers, means connecting the stirrup withthe short arms of the levers whereby when the levers are in book openingposition the stirrup will be raised and when the levers are in closedposition the stirrup will be depressed relatively to the levers and willreceive the back of the book and support the entire weight of the book,and means associated with said levers and stirrup and having relativemovement with respect to the stirrup for further elevating intermediateportions of the back of the book when the stirrup is raised, said lastmentioned means comprising a chine member arranged to engage the bookback in the raised position of the stirrup and to drop away therefrom inthe depressed position.

4. A book-holder comprising in combination a frame-a pair of fulcrummembers supported by the frame, a pair of levers pivotally connectecl'toeach fulcrum member respectively, said levers being adapted to lap thebook covers, a stirrup for the back of the book between said levers,means connecting the stirrup with the levers whereby when the levers arein book opening position the stirrup and book back are raised and whenthe levers are in the closed position the stirrup and book back aredepressed, and a chine member carried by the stirrup effecting an upwardarching of the book back when the stirrup has reached the limit of itsupward movement, said chine member being arranged to have limitedlateral movement with respect to the stirrup to accommodatevaryingpositions of the book back.

5. A book-holder comprising in combination a frame, a pair of fulcrummembers supported by the frame, a pair of levers pivotally connected toeach fulcrum member respectively; said levers being adapted to lap thebook covers, a stirrup for the back of the book between said levers,means connecting the stirrup with the levers whereby when the levers arein book opening position the stirrup and .book back are raised and whenthe levers are in the closed position the stirrup and book back aredepressed, and a chine member elevatable with-respect to the stirrup byopening movement of the levers and arranged to effect an upward archingof the book back when the stirrup'has reached the limit of its upwardmovement, said chine member being depressible with respect to thestirrup by said book back out of the way of the book back when thelevers are moved to close the book.

6. A book-holder for a large book comprising a frame having a book backsupporting part and cover supporting parts at each side of the backsupporting part, said parts being arranged for relative movement inopening and closing movements of the book, whereby the back supportingpart is moved toward the plane of the cover supporting parts when thebook is open and is depressed below said plane when the book is closed,and a chine member responsive to opening movements of at least one ofsaid cover supporting parts and efiective after the back supporting parthas reached the limit of its movement toward the plane of the coversupporting parts to support the back of the book intermedially to effectan arch formation therefor extending above the plane of the coversupporting parts to facilitate reading of the pages of the book, saidchine member being shiftable laterally responsive to varying positionsof the book back.

7. A book-holder comprising "in combination .a frame, a pair of leverspivotally connected to the frame, a stirrup supported by and betweensaid levers, means connecting the stirrup with the levers whereby whenthe levers are in book opening position the stirrup is raised and whenthe levers are in book closed position the stirru is depressed, a pairof hangers depending from said stirrup, a chine member having a centralpeaked portion and side portions carried by said hangers for up and downmovement thereon, the side portions of the chine member being slotted topass the hangers therethrough respectively, a lifter arm carried by eachlever and engageable with said chine member to raise the chine memberwith respect to the stirrup in the elevated position of the stirrup, thestirrup having a central opening passing the central peaked portion ofthe chine member therethrough, and anti-friction means between thelifter arms and the chine member.

8. A book-holder comprising in combination a frame, a pair of leverspivotally connected to the frame, a stirrup supported by and'betweensaid levers, means connecting the stirrup with the levers whereby whenthe levers are in book opening position the stirrup is raised and whenthe levers are in book closed position the stirrup is depressed, a pairof hangers depending from said stirrup, a chine member carried by saidhangers for up and down movement thereon, the chine member being slottedto pass the hangers therethrough, a lifter arm carried by each lever and'engageable with said chine member to raise the chine member withrespect to the stirrup in the elevated position of the stirrup forfurther elevating intermediate portions of the back of the book when thestirrup is raised, said slots in the chine member being laterallyelongated whereby the chine member has lateral movement with respect tosaid stirrup and lifter arms to accommodate varying positions of thebook back, and anti-friction members supporting the chine member on thelifter arms, the extremities of the lifter arms being curved upwardlyfor further antifriction purposes.

'9. A book-holder comprising in combination .a frame, a pair of leverspivotally connected to the frame, a stirrup supported by and between thelevers, means connecting the stirrup with the levers whereby when thelevers are in book opening position the stirrup is raised and when thelevers are in the book closed position the stirrup is depressed, a chinemember carried by and suspended below the stirrup and arranged forrelative vertical movement with respect to the stirrup, a centralopening in the stirrup receiving the chine member therein, means carriedby at least one of the levers and associated with the chine member toeffect upward vertical movement of the chine member with respect to thestirrup, and means for efiecting lateral movement of the chine memberwith respect to the stirrup.

.10. A book-holder comprising in combination a frame, a pair of leverspivotally connected to the frame, a stirrup supported by and between thelevers, means connecting the stirrup with the levers whereby when thelevers are in book opening position the stirrup is raised and when thelevers are in the book closed position the stirrup is depressed, a chinemember carried b the stirrup and arranged for relative vertical movementwith respect to the stirrup, means carried ment of the chine member withrespect to the stirrup, and means for efiecting lateral movement of thechine member with respect to the frame.

11. A book-holder comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of leverspivotally connected to the frame, a stirrup supported :by and betweenthe levers, means connecting the stirrup with the levers whereby whenthe levers are in book opening position the stirrup is raised and whenthe levers are in book closed position the stirrup is depressed, a chinemember carried by and suspended below the stirrup and arranged forrelative vertical movement with respect to the stirrup, and meanscarried by the levers and associated with the chine member to effect anupward vertical movement of the chine member with respect to thestirrup, the stirrup having a central opening receiving the chine membertherein.

12. A book-holder comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of leverspivotally connected to the frame, a stirrup supported by and between thelevers, means connecting the stirrup with the levers whereby when thelevers are in book opening position the stirrup is raised and when thelevers are in bool; closed position the stirrup is 10 depressed, a chinemember carried by the stirrup and arranged for relative verticalmovement with respect to the stirrup, and means actuated by the leversand associated with the chine member to effect an upward verticalmovement of the chine member with respect to the stirrup.

GEORGE T. ROGERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

